Discussions By Symptom: Joint Pain

Knee pain, slight locking feeling, no other symptoms and no known cause... any ideas?

The best I can explain is that it feels similar to when your knee needs to pop, and you bend it and right before it pops it hurts a little, it's like that but doesn't disappear and more intense. I feel the pain in the outside of my knee. It's worst when I am going down stairs. I can also feel it if I squat down and twist a little bit. If I am not using it, no pain. No bruising, no tenderness to the touch. I began to feel it while running a few days ago, a little stiffness, thought it would go away, next morning it was way worse. There was no injury and no notable onset. It's not excruciating, but I do limp a bit. If I fight through the pain, I can still do everything though. My only concern is that it might be structural and if I ignore it, it might get worse. I've never had anything like this before, although I do have terrible joints. Anybody experienced anything like this or might know what it is?

2 Replies:

Knee pain is the main reason for roughly one third of all doctor’s visits in the United States related to muscle or bone pain. There are several different main causes of joint pain in knees.

Here are the more common issues that you may be experiencing.
Ligament Damage
Bursitis
Injuries
Degenerative Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
The common ways of treating knee pain and swelling are:
Compression:
Ice
Cortisone
Cortisone Injections
Aspirations

I have these same issues. I have been to doctor several times. Been told, due to my running and weak hip have developed bone spurs under my knee caps. The IT band is pulling and making my kneecap track wrong. Very painful. Knee pops, can't walk up stairs well and downstairs is terrible. Try walking down backwards...but also causes people to think you are nuts. I have tried meds, anti-inflammatory meds, cortisone, gel shots (which do work) but only for a 8 months and now scheduled for surgery. I sure hope you don't have this.